League Chronology & Special Occasions

No compendium could possibly cover completely the accomplishments of a busy national organization over more than four decades. However, this chronology gives some highlights of the diverse activities carried out by the League and its branches.

1970 - The Monarchist League of Canada is Founded

League is founded on 23rd February by John Aimers

Holds first meeting (over 600 attend in Ottawa) to counter moves by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to weaken the monarchy.

1970

1971 - Passport Campaign

Campaigns successfully for Royal Arms of Canada to remain on Canadian passports

1971

1972

Testifies before Joint Senate-Commons Committee on Constitution of Canada

Successfully campaigns to retain the Crown on Ontario License Plates

John Gould succeeds John Aimers as Dominion Chairman

1972

1973 - Canada Post Campaign

Pressure from League results in Canada Post issuing two large stamps of Queen for Commonwealth conference held in Ottawa

20 League Members Journey to London to celebrate Princess Anne's Wedding

1973

1974 - Monarchy Canada

Initiates Monarchy Canada in magazine format as independent journal of Canadian monarchical opinion.

1974

1975 - Vice-Regal Patronage

After campaigning, receives assurance from Ontario Premier Bill Davis of his government ’s opposition to an Ontario Advisory Committee report suggesting Queen be dropped from Canadian Citizenship Oath

Branches encouraged as six lieutenant governors become League patrons

John Aimers resumes active leadership of League as Dominion Chairman

1975

1976 - Montreal Olympics Campaign

Lobbies and runs advertising to make sure that Queen opens 21st Olympics in Montréal as Canada’s head of state

1976

1977 - the Queen's Silver Jubilee

Newfoundland Branch obtains signatures of over three-quarters of the province’s population on Declaration of Loyalty for Silver Jubilee

90 League members journey to London to celebrate Queen’s Silver Jubilee in June

A large group of members gathers in Ottawa in October for Queen’s Jubilee homecoming to the National Capital Region.

1977

1978 - Campaign Against Bill C-60

Testifies before Joint Committee of Commons and Senate against the republican provisions of Bill C-60 (&quota new Constitution for Canada&quot), waging large public opinion campaign helping to secure unanimous provincial opposition to the bill and its eventual withdrawal

1978

1979 - Monarchical Traditions in the Canadian Forces

Testifies before Minister of Defence’s Task Force Review on Unification of Canadian Forces in respect of monarchical traditions and insignia

1979

1980 - First National Dinner, Awards

Holds first national dinner to celebrate 10th anniversary of League’s founding

Initiates awards to honour members’ outstanding service and distinguished Canadians’ public support of the Crown.

1980

1981

Produces popular sticker of The Queen for use on mail, partly as reaction to lack of availability of Royal stamps at post offices

120 members join celebrations of Prince of Wales’ marriage in London

1981

1982 - Sir John Biggs Davison Tour

Sponsors national speaking tour by British MP and Monarchist Sir John Biggs-Davison

1982

1983 - Initiates &quotRoyal Week&quot Celebrations

Initiates national celebrations of Royal Week near Victoria Day holiday each May to encourage public celebration of Canada’s monarchy

Newfoundland Branch presents first Colours to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary

1983

1984 - CBC Production and U of T Monarchy Conference

Assists CBC in production of video history of Canada’s monarchy, The Maple & The Crown

Co-hosts study conference on monarchy held at the University of Toronto

Toronto Branch participates in Royal Tattoo in presence of The Queen

1984

1985 - Canada's Monarchy, Authentic Evolution

Submits to new Mulroney government a brief, Canada’s Monarchy, Authentic Evolution, containing department-by-department recommendations for full expression of the nation’s monarchical identity

Welcomes Countess Mountbatten of Burma as Guest of Honour at 15th Anniversary National Dinner-Dance

Assists in presentation of Five Hundred Years of Royal Canada mural to The Queen at Rideau Hall

1997

1998

Exposes in Parliament and media the refusal of Chrétien Government to second a Canadian public servant to assist Queen at Buckingham Palace in line with previous practice, eliciting promise from PM to do so when asked in future

Campaigns successfully for Canada Post policy whereby Queen’s Stamp must be stocked at all outlets, and her picture hung based on &quotcommunity demand&quot

Also campaigns successfully for Oath of Citizenship to remain Oath to Queen as evidenced when Bill C-63 tabled

Testifies before Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on proposed Royal Assent changes

Canadian Monarchist News appears in tabloid format as official League periodical, replacing Monarchy Canada

1998

1999 - First Survey on Cost of Canadian Crown Released

Releases first comprehensive Survey on Cost of Canadian Crown (74 cents per citizen yearly)

2000 - League Receives Armorial Bearings

Campaigns to force Canada Post to reverse previous refusal to issue stamp honouring Queen Mother’s 100th Birthday: stamp subsequently launched by Governor General in presence of League members at Rideau Hall

Organizes Queen Mother celebrations across Canada

Receives Armorial Bearings containing two Royal Crowns by Queen’s permission, presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario acting on behalf of The Governor General and proclaimed at Accession Day service.

Testifies before House of Commons Committee and Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Citizenship Oath

Launches first contact groups in communities where League branches not yet in existence

Supplies first vice-regal summer student intern at Government House, Victoria

Places pressure on Bank of Canada to emphasize Queen’s role as Canada’s Sovereign on redesigned $20 banknote

Victoria branch organizes first branch advertising campaign

Produces League flag in response to members’ demand. Establishes bulletin board on internet for free exchange of members’ views

2001

2002 - Golden Jubilee, Host Governor General, Member of Royal Family for First Time

First sitting Governor General attends League event: Golden Jubilee Accession Day Service and Reception, Toronto

Welcomes member of Royal Family for first time as Prince Michael of Kent addresses functions and presents League Awards in Toronto, Calgary and Victoria on 12-day national tour organized by John Aimers

Successfully campaigns for stamp, coin, Queen’s pictures and other Jubilee materials to be issued by federal government

Begins free national distribution of Jubilee portraits of Queen

Organizes and assists public and private celebrations of Golden Jubilee throughout Canada, launching special bilingual Jubilee website

2004 - Hosts Anne, Princess Royal in Toronto

Defends Governor General in media over spending and travel controversy

Ontario members participate in Lieutenant Governor’s book drive for First Nations communities

Greets Princess Royal in Toronto with youth and members (from six provinces) as League’s third Royal Visitor

Holds Young Adult Monarchist Conference in Toronto

Exposes federal government confusion as to the roles of The Queen and the Governor General, as demonstrated at Canadian 60th anniversary of D-Day commemoration in Normandy

2004

2005 - Celebrates 35th Anniversary with the Earl and Countess of Wessex

Mounts national campaign in opposition to deletion of Queen’s name from Canadian diplomatic Letters of Credence and to demonstrate dangers of creeping republicanism vested in a Governor General nominated, advised and budgeted by the Prime Minister

Releases third comprehensive study of the Cost of the Canadian Crown: $1.54 per Canadian annually

Celebrates 35th anniversary with the League’s fourth Royal visit, by welcoming The Earl and Countess of Wessex

Takes leading role in debate over nomination of Michaëlle Jean as Governor General

Second Monarchist Youth Conference held in Toronto

2005

2006 - Publishes The Canadian Monarchy

Produces The Canadian Monarchy, full-colour educational booklet about the Maple Crown, and begins distribution to parliamentarians, schools and youth groups

Revises website to incorporate contemporary education section

Celebrates Queen’s 80th birthday

Third Monarchist Youth Conference held in Ottawa

2006

2007 - First Definitive stamp of the Queen Issued by Canada Post

Robert Finch of Hamilton, Ontario, succeeds John Aimers as Dominion Chairman on the 37th anniversary of the League’s founding

After decades of lobbying, Canada Post issues the first permanent (non-denominated) definitive stamp of The Queen for first class letters

2007

2008 - Campaign to Reverse BC Ferries' Removal of Pictures of the Queen

Leads successful public and media campaign to reverse BC Ferries’ decision to remove pictures of Queen from its vessels

Protests downgrading of Royal portrait at Rideau Hall

Distributes new official portrait of Queen and the federal government’s Crown of Maples/ La Couronne Canadienne

2008

2009 - The League Joins Social Media

Promotes Crown via social networking through League presence on Facebook, Twitter and Chairman’s Blog

Becomes first organization to Tweet a Royal Visit

Members in BC, ON and QC attend events for Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall

Issues fourth triennial study, The Cost of the Canadian Crown: $1.53 per Canadian yearly

2009

2010 - League's 40th Anniversary

Celebrates 40th anniversary of founding with complete revamping of website

Opens special Facebook page for discussion of Governor General appointment

Members attend events for Queen and Prince Philip’s homecoming in MB, ON & NS

Campaigns for restoration of &quotRoyal Canadian Navy&quot title

2010

2011 - The Marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton

45 members travel to London to join festivities surrounding the Marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton

Organizes coast-to-coast breakfast parties for Canadians to share in watching the Royal Wedding

Several hundred members breakfast together in Ottawa prior to joining throngs on Parliament Hill to celebrate Canada Day with William and Kate

2011

2012 - The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

With assistance of Canadian Heritage grant, organizes 17 Diamond Jubilee celebrations throughout Canada, some attended by thousands, emphasizing community, diversity, and fun. Distributes tens of thousands of Jubilee educational and celebration materials

League Dominion Chairman Robert Finch is invited by the Prime Minister of Canada to accompany him to central Jubilee Weekend in London

35 members join London Central Jubilee weekend festivities with many attending the Canadian High Commission "Big Lunch" with the Governor General and the official re-opening of the High Commission with HRH the Duke of York

Nominates some 45 members to receive the Diamond Jubilee Medal: Barbara Goldring of Toronto and Tom Richards of Regina receive theirs at the hands of HRH the Prince Wales

2012

2013 - First French Language League Education Booklet

Publishes and distributes across Canada its first educational booklet in the French language, La Monarchie Canadienne

Promotes unanimous passage by Parliament of Succession To the Throne Act which reflects Canadian values by eliminating gender-discrimination in the Succession and the unique ban on heirs' marrying a Roman Catholic

Organizes Royal Baby showers to benefit Royal Charities across Canada in celebrating the birth of Prince George, future King of Canada

2013

2014 - The Prince of Wales' Canadian Homecoming

Young Monarchists make three short films to promote League in social media: filming funded by generous gift from member and first Silent Auction

Members in Nova Scotia, PEI and Manitoba meet the Prince of Wales & Duchess of Cornwall at official functions and walkabouts during Canadian homecoming. Other members are greeted by HRH the Duke of York at York Rangers' Regimental Luncheon

2014

2015

Organizes a chain of 140 municipal celebrations across Canada to mark the historic longevity of The Queen’s reign on September 9th

Publishes bilingual recruiting flyer

2015

2016

Encourages/records national singing of Happy Birthday/Bonne fête for The Queen’s 90th birthday, welcoming the Governor General
to a national League celebration of the event on the eve of HM’s actual birthday

Dylan Mainprize succeeds Neil Macalasdair as National Chairman of Young Monarchists

Launches new website of modern design

2016

Being a Monarchist is Fun ... Some Special Occasions

Although the emphasis of the League’s work is outreach, effective action and education, monarchists also take time to celebrate and enjoy themselves. Among the special visitors the League has welcomed to gala occasions marking Royal or League anniversaries are the following:

2016

The 90th birthday of The Queen – The Governor General of Canada, David Johnston